The Willamette Heritage Center has always been a place where stories are shared, the past is preserved, and our community comes together.
But today, we find ourselves at a critical point—one where your support can make all the difference.
Without an immediate increase in our community’s support, the programs, experiences, and preservation work we provide and you value will face significant reductions in the months ahead.
We need your help now not only to keep the stories alive and the experiences meaningful for all, but to continue with our regular daily operations as well.
Every contribution, whether $50, $500, or $5,000 will immediately make a direct and urgent impact.
We need your help today to ensure:
Our historic buildings remain protected.
Students continue learning, and families keep exploring together.
Our spaces remain vibrant centers for community connection and celebration.
President Arthur started the meeting by recognizing birthdays of members (above) and new members and guest: Cindey Giratt, Westley Starling and Grace Maurer, with guest Carol Wagner.
Su Fennern stated that “Sheep to Shawl” was a success and graciously thanked members Debbie Paxon, Diane Williams, Judith Bither, Sara Almond, Marsha Graciosa, Tia Purdy, Michelle Sanguinetti, Janet Bubl and Heather Sly-Haley for their assistance. It was unclear if attendance was more than last year.
It was announced that Salem Fiberarts Guild (SFG) is having a Stash Sale on June 14, the same day as our June meeting. If members want to sell their stash, they must be members of the SFG; however, you can shop without membership from 10 AM – 3 PM in the grassy area of the WHC parking lot.
Pres. Authur called for nominations for Guild Secretary, with Su Fennern nominating Margaret Fizer. This was seconded by many members, and votes were secured without dissent. Margaret Fizer is the official Guild Secretary. Congrats and thank you!
Service Projects Donation Update
Su Fennern reviewed our 2025 Service Projects:
WATCH CAPS: donated over 40; HOPE BABY ITEMS: over 70. Su suggested we shift our knitting focus to Operation School Bell (OSB) hats, stating that last year, we knitted 339 items. She recognized top knitters: Kathy Goebel – 94 hats, Sue Culbertson – 45 hats, Sue Tyvoll – 40 hats, Cheryl Kleckner – 35 hats, Sandy Galbraith – 33 hats, plus 2 scarves. Thanks to all who participated!
Sue Culbertson and Margaret Fizer spoke about OSB hats helping Head Start to third graders. About 20 have been collected in 2025. They offered the hat pattern copies for worsted weight yarn and stated that the pattern was on the website. Parameters: hat should fit head circumference 20”, height 8.5”, solids, stripes, or colors yarn makes as knitted. Best colors: red, pink, blue, green, purple, brown and black.
Show & Tell
Sara Amend sported a sweet sweater with slant pockets that fit perfectly after she altered the pattern.
Joellen Kay showed off a striking subtle lime green and white striped sweater. Both were well received with positive comments.
Judy Ozalan handed out her popular mosaic “Phone Cozy” pattern.
Program
Our speaker was Lois Olund owner of Blakesley Farm in Philomath, Oregon. She shared her love of sheep and her journey into the sheep business. She moved to Oregon in 1978 and purchased land. Her love of spinning and sheep came together as she taught Special Ed classes by day and spun and planned by night. Her dreams sprouted a home, barns, land for Wensleydale sheep to roam and breed, an AirBnB, heritage apple grove and a Wool Company.
She imparted her knowledge to us with the interesting fact that sheep were domesticated 9-11,000 yrs ago. Stats: over 1 billion sheep are alive in our world, with 165,000 in Oregon, which is one of the top 10 sheep-raising areas in the U.S., mainly due to our climate.
She set up a dynamic display of 140 single photos of sheep with touchable samples of the fleece each breed produces. Sixty of the sheep breeds pictured can be found in the U.S. Yarn balls with the sheep’s breed were available for us to touch. She made a visual board listing the breed name with sample strands of wool noting the fiber characteristics that turn into yarn we use. She also showed a very large book with “everything sheep” that she has created, drawing from her research, knowledge and many photos and wool samples mailed to her over the years.
Needless to say, the entire program plus the displays was so impressive!
For more info: contact Lois at 541-609-0838; lolund@peak.org; Blakesley Creek Farm in Philomath, OR. Wensleydale sheep breeding stock and products, heritage apples and owner of Bellwether Wool Company. Sheepherder Wagon AirBnB.
Upcoming Events
Next Meeting
June’s meeting will be held in the old Pendleton Store area at Willamette Heritage Center (WHC) due to a scheduling conflict.
August’s meeting will be held at WHC – probably outdoors, with possibly Little Lois Lunches ordered. All Knit Along is the featured activity.
If we missed your birthday or have you in the wrong month, please let us know!
April Meeting Highlights
Guild Business
President Arthur welcomed guests – Beth Maurer’s daughter Grace and Amelia Van Hook’s father – and announced that there is still an opening for Program Coordinator. Vice President Tia Purdy took a few minutes to add that this is not just a one-person position; two people could work together to make the job easier. Think about having two friends and all the fun times you would have going places to check out new stores, events, places for field trips, etc.
November Fiberarts Guild Sale: Sue Culbertson and Su Fennern talked about tags that each item being sold will have. The tag will have two parts: the top part attached to the item that the purchaser will take to the cashier for payment, and the bottom part that the knitter will keep. Information on the tag will be the seller’s name: First name and first letter of last name. Each seller will be given a number, in case they choose not to use their name. The tag will also have a description of the item and the price.
Su Fennern passed around the sign-up sheets for the May 3, 2025 Sheep to Shawl event.
President Arthur shared the upcoming collectable Oregon State Button Society Show and Sale May 2 and 3, 2025, held at the Best Western Hotel in Keizer.
Show & Tell
Judy Ozalan showed a cell phone cozy that she made. She will bring a few copies of the pattern to the next Guild meeting.
Program: Members sharing about their first knitting projects, who taught them/how they learned to knit, and other interesting facts on knitting
Heather Sly-Haley shared what was supposed to have been a scarf. It didn’t make it, but can be used as a pot holder.
Amelia Van Hook has always been interested in knitting from watching her aunt. She received a scarf kit from her aunt and gave it as a gift. Amelia shared that some friends have called her an old lady because she knits. She embraces this!
Debbi Paxon shared knitted clothing that her grandmother knitted in the 60’s. There were two dresses, two outfits, with a skirt and a sweater on a cardigan, and one pullover.
Grace Maurer shared that her first item knitted was a scarf for her teacher. She is working on a scarf for herself using circular needles.
Kitty Crawford learned how to knit from her great-grandmother. Her mother and grandmother crocheted and did embroidery work. Kitty’s first projects were a crocheted afghan and a Fisherman’s sweater that she knitted in the back loop. Kitty used books and looked at pictures on how things were done.
Kathy Goebel learned to knit from her mother as a child. Kathy was wearing a cardigan that she knitted in the 80’s. The cardigan has cables and lace. She shared a shawl that she made using yarn purchased from a silent retreat auction. Colors were wonderful.
Sue Culbertson read a piece that she had written for her college project about her grandmother teaching her and seeing her gnarly fingers and comparing them with hers today. She spoke of her mentor, Mrs. Shepard, and 4-H leader and learning skills from them. She was part of a Community Quilt project that gave the quilt to the Oregon School for the Blind in 1964. All in all, she shared some of her memories of learning to knit.
Jo Ellen Kay shared a colorful baby bunting that she made in the 80’s that has entrelac, and she sewed in a zipper. Some day she’s hoping that a baby will use it.
Diane Williams shared that at her grandmother’s funeral, everyone brought a pair of mittens and covered the top of the casket with them. At Christmas time, Diane filled a box with mittens, socks, and scarves and sent it off to her eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Carol Jones used to own a cottage industry called Bluebird Woolens. Carol made designs for companies such as L.L. Bean using knitting machines. She moved on to working with computers for the state of Maine and then raising sheep. In 2012, Carol started knitting with knitting needles, and she claims that knitting has been born again for her.
Patty Scruggs learned to crochet from her grandmother. Her aunt knitted sweaters, and she hoped that she would get one from her aunt. That didn’t happen. Patty did crochet matching sweaters for her son, husband, and herself. For some time, she knitted while watching her husband bowl. One pair of socks that she knitted for her son did not match exactly. Seems one sock was 2″ shorter than the other because she wanted to get to the foot part of the pattern. Patty knits for a Knit to Fit organization; mainly gloves for individuals with special-shaped hands.
Michelle Sanguinetti shared that she has learned from You Tube videos. She knits Continental style. One of her favorite designers is Stephen West. She shared a Clockwork shawl.
Tia Purdy shared that her great-grandmother knitted. Sometimes the great-grandmother’s knitted items were knitted really tight. She learned how to knit Christmas stockings. Tia did take a 4-H class and didn’t like it at all. Her mother has been there to provide guidance and to get her back on the right track with patterns.
Watch Caps collected: 19 caps in March and 20 caps in April, for a total of 39 caps donated.
HOPE Baby items collected: 11 items such as booties, socks, two outfits that included a onesie, hat, and booties. Five sewn receiving blankets, and 10 hats for a total of 26. Year-to-date donation is close to 50 items.
Upcoming Events
Next Meeting
The May meeting will be on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Willamette Heritage Center. Lois Olund from Blakesley Creek Farm will enlighten us about breeds of sheep and how their fiber characteristics affect the lovely yarn we use to knit.
This is a call out that the Black Sheep Gathering Workshops Committee is seeking volunteers for this year’s festival, which will be held June 24-26, 2022 at the Linn County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Albany, Oregon.
Please spread the word to your local fiber groups and ask anyone who is interested to contact Joyce Arthur at blacksheepworkshops@gmail.com.
Here are the days and times volunteers are needed:
Set up day – Thursday, June 23
10 AM – 2 PM
2 PM – 6 PM
Friday, June 24
7:45 AM – 10 AM
10 AM – 12 PM
12 PM – 2 PM
2 PM – 4 PM
Saturday, June 25
7:45 AM – 10 AM
10 AM – 12 PM
12 PM – 2 PM
2 PM – 4 PM
Shifts are approximately 2 hours; the most critical time slots are the first morning shift and mid-day when students are checking in for their classes.
As you know, Black Sheep Gathering is entirely run by volunteers— so it’s especially important to have plenty of help — and it’s easier and more fun the more people we have. We so appreciate you!
I hope you will join us at Black Sheep Gathering this year, and please consider volunteering if you can. Thank you so much!
This month we had 5 women bring us fiber and goodies. We met this group of ladies at OFF this past fall and asked them to come to our guild to have a Spring Fiber and Food Faire. Thank you all for supporting these ladies with your purchases. These ladies are kind of unique in that they raise the animals, do the shearing, and spin and dye the fiber themselves. The food was great too and goes so well with fiber. Best caramel corn I have ever had. These ladies did an awesome job and were a lot of fun too. If you go to OFF this year look them up they share a double booth there.
Next month we will have Vivian Aubrey who will talk to us about taking picture of your knitted projects. How to give your creations the center stage they deserve. Then we will all have the greatest pictures on Ravelry of our latest projects. I find Ravelry a great way to look back and see what you have done over the past year.
Heirloom Labels has contacted me with info, and I will bring samples of the custom labels to the next meeting. www.heirloomlabels.com
Our historic buildings remain protected.
Salem Millstream Knitting Guild 
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